Perzactly.
Truck liner, eh? I may just have to consider that for my Squender Mustonco project.
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How to make your Bass look worn?????
- Thread starter CLMSHQ
- Start date
Perzactly.
Truck liner, eh? I may just have to consider that for my Squender Mustonco project.
Get an old, large, commercial clothes dryer (like a Wascomat "Big Boy"). No need to hook it up to a gas line, being that you won't be using it to dry clothing. Just plug it into an appropriate electrical outlet. Remove the strings from your bass. Unbolt the neck from the body. Toss the neck, body, and bolts into the dryer. Add random pieces of debris (coarse sandstone, bricks, cast iron pipe fittings, heirloom X-mas fruitcake, dirty shop rags, wads of freshly chewed tobacco, etc.) Securely close the dryer door, and run it for about 15 minutes. Repeat as necessary. 
Yeah.. just let it happen naturally. Why in the world someone would want their intruments to appear "worn" is beyond me, but if your mind is set on doing this then these pointers may help accelerate that goal a bit:
1. never wash your hands/forearms before you play
2. keep your bass in a smoke-filled environment
3. always use a cheap, thinly-padded gig bag
4. encourage other non-players to 'play' your baby
5. leave it on a stand. overnight in high traffic areas
6. never clean or polish it....ever
7. lean it up against speakers or stacks often
8. encourage drunks patrons to 'try it' at gigs
9. play it twice as much as you're currently playing now
Before ya know it, that bass will have the desired 'look' . .
Try the following link, it may help. Most of my basses are fairly pristene, but I have one that has been relic'd and is fun to get out every now and then. Might be easier for you to start out with a Highway One.
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If you're the violent sort of person, you can take all the hardware off your bass, protect the neck somehow, and swing a chain at the guitar, or you could use sandpaper to give a worn out look on the finish...
BUT
You have to decide if you really wanna do it or not, wear will happen over time anyway if you keep using it, but if you force it then you might end up regretting it...
Just some ideas, read it in a mag somewhere
BUT
You have to decide if you really wanna do it or not, wear will happen over time anyway if you keep using it, but if you force it then you might end up regretting it...
Just some ideas, read it in a mag somewhere
Loan it to me for 6 months.
I unfortunately seem to have a knack for "weathering" basses in a hurry. Without even really trying.
One reason I will probably never buy a new bass again.
I unfortunately seem to have a knack for "weathering" basses in a hurry. Without even really trying.
One reason I will probably never buy a new bass again.
Oo I didn't think about chains... Thats something you can through in the large dryer with the other debris. Chains! And old padlocks too.
Tie a rope to the back of a trail bike, tie the bass to the other end, and go for a nice long ride through the woods.
+1
With the notable exception that car values depreciate quickly; that's not necessarily the case with musical instruments. But my point is pretty irrelevant to the topic anyway.
----------
Look, it's up to the individual musician. People hear a guy play very well (and look older than a teenager) and think, "wow! he/she's good and it looks like he/she's been playing that thing forever!"
--or--
They hear a rookie playing poorly and think, "Poor dude couldn't even afford a decent instrument. Look! It's already been used all to hell by the last guy who owned it. Must be a craiglist special."
--or--
They hear a teenager playing and see him with a "relic" and think, "Looks like his Uncle Earl passed down the ol' family bass for the kid to learn on. Well, if he sticks with it, he'll get better (or 'he sounds pretty good on that old thing')."
In any case, does it really matter?
If you want to look like you don't take care of your gear and that's cool to you...so be it!
If you want to relic your stuff, relic it! Just don't expect to be able to sell it later for much (unless you're famous). If that's cool with you--go for it!
Even over time, you have to be a bit neglectful of your gear in order for it to wear. I've had my bass for 13 years and I still have some people ask me if it's new (maybe that's because my playing sucks?).
But, yeah, some good road use (i.e. gigging) will give it some wear if you're not VERY careful. Gigging is hard on instruments.
I like new, shiny stuff so I try to take care of my stuff as best as I can. If I have a relic I want it to be because I put the wear on it and have memories and stories of all the scars. That's just me, though. I know everyone has different taste when it comes to cosmetics.
No, I caught it. But in a way, you're right. You CAN buy a car--or a very nice vacation--for what some people spend on bass gear. I guess if a guy has that kind of money to toss around...You must have missed the "J/K" ("just kidding") in my post.
Yep, I agree exactly - people are free to do what they wish with their money and their belongings, so long as it doesn't harm another person. For the life of me I don't see why people have trouble understanding that. Oh well.
If you got a buddy who works in a restaurant, you could ask him to stash your bass on top of the deep fryer filters, I'm sure that'll give it that smoked on tint.
I could hardly read that the font was so small.
As my mother use to say there is no excuse for bad manners..so we really shouldn't call anybody stupid or silly for wanting a relic. But you do have to agree that the Musicman Bongo is shaped liked a toilet seat.
People use comparisons describing guitar shapes all the time..some examples:1.) Dean "Shrimp Fork" Headstock
2.) Rickenbacker "Crest-shaped" Headstock
3.) National "Map" shaped guitars
Etc.
I am sure TBer's can come up with a whole lot more.
